From: BurmaNet ------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------ "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" ---------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: 13 September 1995 Issue #225 Noted In Passing: They're even trying to get exclusive market areas by sending their sales promotion girls to certain restaurants to serve the consumers their products. In some cases, they entice the restaurant owners to boycott other brands by offering attractive incentives. - a local advertising agent on beer marketing in Burma. (quoted in COMPETITION FOAMS UP IN BURMA BEER MARKET) HEADLINES: ========== PROJECT MAJE: NOTES ON U.S. SANCTIONS BEYOND RANGOON INFO ICFTU-APRO: BURMA-POST CARD CAMPAIGN BKK POST: CONCERN OVER SHORTAGE OF BURMESE HANDS BKK POST: DKBA TROOPS ROB LOCAL THAI OFFICIAL BUT RELEASE HOSTAGES NATION(EDITORIAL): SLORC MUST BE PRESSURED INTO A DIALOGUE WITH SUU KYI NATION: LETTER TO THE EDITOR - NO TO ARROGANCE ADDRESS BY SENATOR GARETH EVANS TO THE ASEAN PMC 7+7 SESSION BKK POST: COMPETITION FOAMS UP IN BURMA BEER MARKET BKK POST: ASEAN TO PRESS FOR BURMA, CAMBODIA AND LAOS TO JOIN ------------------- Produced with the support of the Burma Information Group (B.I.G). The BurmaNet News is an electronic newspaper covering Burma. Articles from newspapers, magazines, newsletters, the wire services and the Internet as well as original material are published. 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Look under the International Political Economy section, then select Geographic_Archive, then Asia, then Burma. ---------------------------------------------------------- BURMANET SUBJECT-MATTER RESOURCE LIST BurmaNet regularly receives enquiries on a number of different topics related to Burma. The scope of the subjects involved is simplytoo broad for any one person to cover. BurmaNet is therefore organizing a number of volunteer coordinators to field questions on various subjects. If you have questions on any of the following subjects, please direct email to the following coordinators, who will either answer your question or try to put you in contact with someone who can: Arakan/Rohingya/Burma- [volunteer needed] Bangladesh border Art/archaeology/: [volunteer needed] Campus activism: [on summer vacation] Boycott campaigns: [Pepsi] wcsbeau@superior.ccs.carleton.ca Buddhism: Buddhist Relief Mission, c/o NBH03114@niftyserve.or.jp Chin history/culture: plilian@asc.corp.mot.com Fonts: tom@cs.colgate.edu History of Burma: zar@mcc.wisc.edu Kachin history/culture: 74750.1267@compuserve.com Karen history/culture: 102113.2571@Compuserve.com Karen Historical Society Mon history/culture: [volunteer needed] Naga history/culture: [volunteer needed] [Burma-India border] Pali literature: "Palmleaf" c/o burmanet@igc.apc.org Shan history/culture: [volunteer needed] Shareholder activism: frdc@igc.apc.org "Attn. S. Billeness" Tourism campaigns: bagp@gn.apc.org "Attn. S. Sutcliffe" World Wide Web: FreeBurma@POBox.com Volunteering: christin@ksc.net.th [Feel free to suggest more areas of coverage] ---------------------------------------------------------- N O T E S O N U.S. S A N C T I O N S A G A I N S T B U R M A 'S R E G I M E By Edith T. Mirante, Project Maje, September 1995 ------------------------------------------- The idea that "unilateral sanctions by the United States won't work" is wrong: ** The US has consistently been among Burma's SLORC regime's top five foreign investors during the last few years. Removal of that huge income source would mortally wound the SL0RC, which depends on infusions of overseas hard currency to stay armed and in power. ** One particular project, the Tenasserim gas pipeline, is the SLORC's largest current and potential income-generating scheme; the US oil company Unocal, is a major partner in the pipeline. Other US oil/gas companies -- Texaco and Arco -- are also huge investors, having paid millions of dollars to the SLORC. Sanctions would end their relationship with the regime. If the US companies withdrew, it would probably not be worthwhile for other oil companies (such as France's Total, Britain's Premier, and Japan's Nippon) to continue their Burmese gas investments without them. The profit margin is low on such gas sales, and the risk is extremely high, so companies try to spread the risk around a partnership. US money has been a crucial component of such partnerships. ** The SLORC has hopes of a lot of "pie in the sky" investment projects, including new cities and the "year of tourism", but little has come of them. SLORC remains deeply in dept, with low currency reserves and high inflation. They are, however, convinced that they will get a steady income if the gas pipeline is built -- this helps make them reluctant to cede any power to Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government. The thought that the oil company money could be removed by US sanctions is extremely frightening to SLORC, sources with Rangoon contacts report. ** As well as its investments, the US is a significant importer of some Burmese goods such as teakwood (from endangered forests) and jumbo shrimp (from overfished seacoast). The SLORC makes money from such sales, and has waged war on ethnic minorities for access to these natural resources. Removing the US as a market for these goods would both help stop the ravaging of Burma's environment, and take income away from the SLORC. The idea that "sanctions might hurt the common people" in Burma is wrong: ** Income from US investments has been going directly to the SLORC (oil/gas companies) for the most part, and otherwise to various cronies of the military regime (Pepsico bottling plant, and garment manufacturing). Withdrawal of the US investments would take money away from Burma's military, and hamper its ability to buy weapons. ** US investment since 1989 have served to build a richer SLORC, with an immense and well armed Burma Army. Thc country is open to business-people and tourists, but slavery and other human rights abuse occurs on a massive scale, often right out in the open. In pouring money into the regime's coffers, US companies have been complicitous in the continued existence of the regime Worse, US investment in the Tenasserim gas pipeline scheme has led to large-scale human rights abuse in SLORC's security campaign for the pipeline region. Sanctions would put a stop to such collaboration with the regime. ** As foreign investments have increased in Burma, the military elite and its cronies have gotten richer and richer, while the average people have gotten poorer and poorer, and victimized by inflation. A false free-market economy exists -- in reality, the economy is as controlled by the military as it was when it was called "socialism". US investments perpetuate this system, and benefits do not trickle down to the vast majority of people in Burma. US projects have employed few people in Burma, and those employees usually must have the approval of the regime. Garment companies have withdrawn, citing the inevitability of SLORC involvement in Burma ventures. ** As consumer goods are largely imported to Burma through neighbors, on an informal basis, the cancellation of US imports to Burma through sanctions would have little effect on US companies or on Burmese consumers. The most high-profile US consumer prodoct in Burma is Pepsi-Cola and its removal would certainly not cause any hardships for the average Burmese. Most people in Burma are living in a subsistence agricultural economy, and are not now using the American imports such as cell-phones; sanctions would not hurt them. There are rice shortages in Burma, but the SLORC is exporting rice for prestige purposes; a US ban on trade in Burmese agricultural products would help keep food inside Burma, where it is needed, rather than having it traded for goods Like Pepsi syrup and bottles overseas. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Edith T. Mirante is author of Burmese Looking Glass: A Human Rights Adventure (Atlantic Month1y press), and director of Project Maje, an independent information project on Burma's human rights and environmental issues, which she founded in 1986. She has traveled extensively in Burma's frontier regions. ****************************** BEYOND RANGOON INFO If someone wants to get Beyond Rangoon, please try to contact this address. Roadshow Distributors Village Roadshow Pictures Suite 1590, 2121 Avenue of the Stars Los Angeles 90067 USA Tel:213 282 5300 Fax:213 282 5339 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Powerful and thought-provoking."_ Alan Silverman (Voice of America). "A remarkably affecting action film. Boorman is one of the great filmmaking masters" _ Polly Frost (ELLE). "Visually stunning and totally absorbing"_ Michael Medved (New York Post). "Visually compelling... Inspired by terribly real events..."Beyond Rangoon" is inspired by real events."_ Kenneth Turan (LA Times). "Grippingly suspenseful"_ Rex Reed (New York Observer). "TRUTH HAS A WITNESS..." ***************************** ICFTU-APRO: BURMA-POST CARD CAMPAIGN International Confederation of Free Trade Unions - Asian and Pacific Regional Organization September 4, 1995 To: Affiliates, friendly organizations and Asian Representatives Jointly, the ICFTU/APRO/ITS are asking trade unions and their members to take part in a "post card campaign" to add strength to the efforts of all of us, in assisting our Burmese brothers and sisters to restore trade union, democratic and other human rights to their country. Burma has been under military dictatorship for the last thirty three years. In 1988, a split in the military resulted in the establishment of a new regime calling itself the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). In 1990, the SLORC allowed democratic election which were overwhelmingly won by the National League for Democracy then headed by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, at the time was under house arrest (she was released in June this year). The SLORC refused to recognize the election result declared on 18 September 1995 (sic), and began systematically detaining, torturing and persecuting its opponents. The post card campaign is one element of the effort of the free and democratic trade union movement of which you are part, to assist in overcoming the injustice of the military junta in Burma. 18 SEPTEMBER TO 31 DECEMBER 1995 We want to keep this post card campaign going until at least the end of 1995. To achieve this, we request that your organization reproduce supplies of the post card and further distribute them amongst your organization's affilitiates, activists and members; even your friends. ICFTU-APRO and ITS AFFILIATES MAY BE ABLE TO SUPPLY CARDS IF NECESSARY If you cannot reproduce the post card but are prepared to take part in this campaign to show international solidarity with our Burmese brothers and sisters, please request ICFTU-APRO or one of the ITSs for additional copies. There is no upper limit on the number of post cards that we want to have delivered to Burmese embassies but we would like at least a minimum of 10,000 in each country where there is an embassy or other mission. Yours sincerely, Takashi Izumi General Secretary ********************* BKK POST: CONCERN OVER SHORTAGE OF BURMESE HANDS September 13, 1995 Mae Sot, Tak REPRESENTATIVES of local employers have lodged a petition with Tak MPS, calling for an urgent solution to the shortage of Burmese labourers in Mae Sot District.. Warit Chinsai, manager of the Bangkok Rubber Co, led just over 30 employers to meet Democrat MPs for Tak on Sunday. They move followed the Tak provincial administration's ann- ouncement that Thai employers were to pay, by August 21, guarantee money for Burmese workers registered with the Local Administration Department.. Only a small number of employers have put up the guarantee for just over 700 workers. The failure of business owners to meet the requirement led to a crackdown on Burmese workers in the district.(BP) *************** BKK POST: DKBA TROOPS ROB LOCAL THAI OFFICIAL BUT RELEASE HOSTAGES 13 September 1995 Ta Song Yang, Tak HEAVILY-ARMED troops of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army crossed the border yesterday and robbed a local official. They made off with a shotgun belonging to local authorities, 27,000 baht in cash, and valuables worth about 5,000 baht, a border source said. There were 24 of them, armed with M- 16 and AK-47 assault rifles and RPG rocket launchers. They intruded into Ban Mae Usu, Tambon Mae Tan at about l a.m., robbing Bunphing Klinhom, 46, assistant village headman. Before returning to Burma along the Moei River, they took as hostages Mr Bunphing and a Karen villager identified as Kyaw Aye San. Mr Bunphing was freed unharmed at the border. Mr Kyaw Aye San was released in the evening shortly after the robbers reached their base in Burma. The incident prompted Phanlop Sripa, a Tha Song Yang district officer, to dispatch defence volunteers to the village. Mr Phanlop has reported the incident to the Tak governor, to the commander of the 34th TasK Force and Interior Ministry. He said the DKBA members intruded into Thailand to arrest Maung Kyaw, an ex DKBA member, who had earlier fled to a Thai village near Ban Mae Usu where the robbery took place. The deputy superintendent of Tha Song Yang, Anand Sangthong, has ordered a police team to patrol border villages. The intrusion of DKBA soldiers indicates that they intentionally violated Thai sovereignty, Pol Lt-Col Anand said. He pointed out that, in robbing an official and seizing an official weapon, they broke the law. The DKBA leader in Burma has been contacted to hand over the seized weapon to Thai authorities, Pol Lt-Col Anand said. Thai authorities await a reply from the DKBA. Such intrusions are terrifying for Thai villagers at the border, Pol Lt-Col Anand said. He is to propose that the commander of Task Force 34, in his capacity as chairman of the local Thai-Burmese Border Committee, lodge a protest with Burmese authorities since the intruders were Burmese nationals. (BP) *************** THE NATION (EDITORIAL): SLORC MUST BE PRESSURED INTO A DIALOGUE WITH SUU KYI 13 September 1995 UNITED States ambassador to the United Nations, Madeleine Albright, late last week delivered a blunt message to Burma's military leaders. The military junta must undertake demo- cratic reforms before Rangoon can expect closer ties with Washington, she told Slorc chief Khin Nyunt. The US envoy dubbed the National Convention, which was organized by Slorc to draft a new constitution, a "phoney" operation and rejected Khin Nyunt's characterization of it is as "a meaningful process for dialogue". Burmese democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was freed from house detention on July 10, criticized the junta recently for severely restricting open debate of the new drawn up in dialogue with the people to reflect their views. The two women have made things very clear to the junta. Slorc must be allow the participation of the Burmese people in any political process, and perfunctory shows where Burmese have been personally selected by the military to discuss and formulate the constitution will just and work. But the Slorc seems to be having a problem. It just doesn't trust the people. STILL CLIMATE OF FEAR Bringing this up at her press conference on Saturday in Bangkok, Albright commented: "Khin Nyunt expressed the belief that Slorc had broad public support, and observed that the Burmese people smile a lot. I said that it had been my experience in a lifetime of studying repressive societies that dictators often delude themselves into believing they have popular support, but that people often smile not because they are happy, but because they are afraid. Indeed, a climate of fear still prevails in Burma despite Suu Kyi's release. The general notion among many Rangoon based diplomats is that the NLD leader is only free from house arrest to receive guest in her compound for evening tea and nothing beyond that. It is uncertain whether Slorc will talk to the NLD leader despite the US envoy being "modestly encouraged" over the junta's consideration "after internal consultations". It still remains some thing of a mystery as to what the generals are planning to do. So far there have not been any indica- tion whatsoever of recognizing the results of the 1990 election where Suu Kyi's NLD won a majority of the seats in the country's legislature. One thing, however, is definite. The junta is just is just waiting for Suu Kyi to make a confrontational move in order to defeat her popularity. The Nobel Peace laureate realizes this and for that reason, since her release, she has always called for dialogue, saying, "In politics one should always adopt an attitude of cautious optimism. All problems have to be solved through dialogue. The sooner the dialogue the better for the people. Dialogue has to be realized. UN RESOLUTION It seem the US intends to maintain pressure on Slorc through the UN. At the previous general assembly, a UN resolution on Burma was passed, but the Rangoon junta thought it could deflect international criticism just by releasing Suu Kyi, and overlooking others provisions. But Albright intends to make sure the Burmese generals respect the UN resolution and realize their international obligation. "The Government's release of Aung San Suu Kyi was just one of many steps the UNGA called on the government to take. It is now time to take the many other steps necessary to restore democracy in accordance with the will of the people as expressed in the democratic elections held in 1990," she said in Bangkok. This stand by the Clinton administration s indeed laudable. But for Slorc to get the message, it is also necessary for Asean to turn the screws. Diplomats action, more aggressive and demanding positions in relation to ties with Slorc, are necessary. With Burma showing its eagerness to join Asean, It is important for the regional grouping to make sure genuine changes in Burma are implemented before it is granted full membership. Asean leaders should remind Slorc that constructive engagement is a give and take situation. The diplomatic recognition that the junta is desperately seeking from Asean must come with conditions. The prerequisite is that the Burmese generals must be seen as working towards a more open democratic society. (TN) **************************************** NATION: LETTER TO THE EDITOR - NO TO ARROGANCE September 12, 1995 In Burma, the ruling Slorc has an image problem. They continue to detain many students and polidcal activists and refuse to hand power to the people represented by the National League for Democracy. They are also constantly harassing and intimidating party leaders and elected representatives. They have set Daw Aung San Suu Kyi free, but refuse to hold a dialogue with her. It's as if she doesn't exist at all. Slorc rules the country at gunpoint or tries to portray and legitimate its image. But despite all this repression, Thai Defence Minister Gen. Chavalit Yong Chaiyudh still visited Burma recently. He obviously sides with Slorc for economic reasons. He considers Suu Kyi, our national leader who has worldwide support, as just an ordinary politician and did not even bother meeting with her. For that alone, Gen Chavalit will be remember as a staunch defender of Slorc. We,the All Burma Basic Education Studer Union (ABBESU), and all the democracy loving people in Burma, deplore his arrogant behaviour. ABBESU Bangkok ************** ADDRESS BY SENATOR GARETH EVANS, FOREIGN MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA, TO THE ASEAN PMC 7+7 SESSION, Bandar Seri Bagawan, 2 August 1995. (editor's note: this is a small excerpt only) If we look back over the last year since ASEAN and its dialogue partners met in Bangkok, it would be fair to say that we have seen in the intervening twelve months a consolidation and strengthening of the sense of community amongst Asia-Pacific nations. This is reflected not only in the further development of APEC and the ASEAN Regional Forum, but perhaps also in a growing call that disputes in both the economic and the security fields not be resolved unilaterally but be addressed in a cooperative manner with the interests of the broader Asia-Pacific community in mind. Economically, the Asia Pacific Region has been going from strength to strength, reflecting its pre-eminence as the fastest growing region in the world. This robust growth will be further enhanced by the historic declaration made last December at the APEC leaders meeting in Bogor. The agreement to achieve free trade in the region by 2010 for industrialised countries and 2020 for developing countries will have the end result of establishing an open market of around two billion people. It is pleasing too, that at a sub-regional level trade liberalisation is gathering pace. A good example is ASEAN's decision to speed up the implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area and significantly broaden its coverage. With regard to Myanmar, we of course welcome the release of Aung San Suu Kyi as an important action by the military leadership of that country. It is heartening to see that since her release she has laid stress on the need for dialogue, for reconciliation and for inclusiveness rather than for confrontation and division. But it is vital that none of us in the region should now send a message to the military leadership of Myanmar that it has now done enough simply by releasing Aung San Suu Kyi - that it simply has to wait out international disapproval for a year or two more and that it will be accepted into regional organisations without need for further change. All of us should make clear to the military leadership of Myanmar that we need further indications of its intention to move down the path towards reconciliation. We should make clear to that leadership that the region will respond in a measured and positive way to the benchmark steps it takes towards that reconciliation, but that those steps need to be taken. ******************************** BKK POST: COMPETITION FOAMS UP IN BURMA BEER MARKET September 13, 1995 BURMA'S Mandalay Beer, first brewed during British colonial rule more than 100 years ago, is preparing to battle increasingly stiff competition from foreign brands flooding he recently opened and fastgrowing beer market. For decades during Burma's Experiment with a closed, centrally planned economy, Mandalay Beer was virtually the only choice for the nation's beer drinkers. But with the liberalisation of international trade in the late 1980s, foreign beers including well-known European and Southeast Asian brands, and numerous cheap Chinese brews - have appeared to challenge, and in some cases overtake, Mandalay as market leader. There are now about 50 brands from 25 countries available in Burma, and industry sources estimate the Dutch brand Heineken has 35% of market share in Rangoon. Second is Singapore's Tiger with 30%, with Mandalay following on 20%. The Mandalay Brewery, established by the British in Burma's second city in 1886, was handed over by the state last year to a joint venture set up between the Ministry of Industry and the private firm Myanma Yang Chi Oo Co. The brewery's output is six million litres per year and preparations are under way to double that capacity and improve the quality of the product, Myanma Yang Chi Oo marketing director Ye Myint said. "We're trying to improve the quality of the beer under the guidance of three Swedish beer experts a brew master, a technical expert and a consultant," he said. "We have also arranged to invest $6.32 million for boosting production." Other plans include producing Mandalay beer in cans and in small 330cc bottles. It is currently only available in large 640cc bottles which retail at 120 kyat each, equivalent to a hefty $18 at the official rate of exchange but a more realistic $1.10 at the black-market rate. Draft Mandalay beer will also soon be available at 10 retail outlets in Rangoon and five in Mandalay, becoming Burma's first draft beer, Ye Myint said. Mandalay Beer is particularly popular with middle-income consumers and almost every foreign tourist arriving in Burma samples the brew, he said Industry sources say wide-spread smuggling of beer into Burma makes it impossible to pin down aggregate consumption figures. "No one can tell you correctly the amount of beer sold here because they don't know how much slips in through illegal channels without being checked by customs," one beer wholesaler said. But everyone in the industry agrees that, with its 45 million people, the Burmese beer market is growing fast and competition is fierce. Both Heineken and Tiger are brewed by Singapore-based Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd but rival local agents handle marketing and sales promotion activities in Burma. Competition is especially intense between market leaders Heineken, Tiger and Mandalay. "They are using every possible sales promotion method advertising on TV, billboards, small signboards, publications, sponsoring sports games and contests," said one advertising agent who declined to be identified. "They're even trying to get exclusive market areas by sending their sales promotion girls to certain restaurants to serve the consumers their products. In some cases, they entice the restaurant owners to boycott other brands by offering attractive incentives," he said without elaborating. Various government departments are also cashing in on the rivalry by charging for all billboard and television advertising in hard-currency dollars. Competition is expected to heat up even more when APB starts brewing Tiger beer in Burma at its $30-million joint-venture brewery which is scheduled to open next September. The new brewery will begin with an annual output of 14 million litres of Tiger beer, later rising to 45 million litres. The competition is getting nervous. "We can't afford to lag behind them. Discussions are underway for us to set up a brewery here," said a Carlsberg agent. Meanwhile, Burma's beer drinkers are still unsure what the beer war means for them. "The market is becoming very competitive, but we have to wait to see whether we consumers will enjoy any benefit or not," said one regular beer drinker. ***************************************************************** BKK POST: ASEAN TO PRESS FOR BURMA, CAMBODIA AND LAOS TO JOIN September 13, 1995 by Saritdet Marukatat Phuket LEADER of the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are to promise to make every effort to fulfil the aspirations of ASEAN's founders by including Burma, Cambodia and Laos in the grouping. They will make the pledge as part of a declaration at the ASEAN summit which Thailand is hosting on December 14-15. Senior officials of the foreign ministries of ASEAN member countries will discuss the draft declaration here today. The director-general of the America and South Pacific affairs department, Sarasin Veeraphol, drew attention to another/ highlight of the summit. This will be, if it can be completed in time, the signing of a treaty for a Southeast Asian nuclear weapons-free zone. Mr Sarasin said the document concerning the nuclear weapons-free zone has almost been completed. Some issues need further discussion, but he is optimistic that the proposal will be ready when the ASEAN leaders meet in Bangkok. Mr Sarasin chaired yesterday's working group to discuss political and security cooperation issues which will be placed in the Bangkok declaration. The senior ministry official said the chances of Burma, Cambodia and Laos becoming part of the organisation are very high. This follows Burma's accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation on July 27 in Brunei on the eve of the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting. Burma has made clear that it would like to join ASEAN although it has not said when, he added. Rangoon's accession to the ASEAN treaty opens the door for that country to become an observer at some stage. Cambodia and Laos, which are currently observers, have informed the grouping that they plan to become new members by 1997. Mr Sarasin said ASEAN leaders will encourage the three countries to join the club by "vowing to share prosperity with them". The "integration" of all 10 Southeast Asian states is the ultimate goal of ASEAN. The summit declaration will be "forward-looking" and will reflect ASEAN's future role. The intended role of ASEAN is for it to be more active in political, security, economic and social cooperation. It will be concerned with expanding within the grouping and with other groupings and international organisations. The future of the ASEAN Free Trade Area and how to improve living standards in the region will be among the items in the declaration, Mr Sarasin said. Future security cooperation will be comprehensively discussed, including such issues as economic growth, migration and the sharing of natural resources, he said. "It's time ASEAN discussed these issues (in the security forum)," he said. Thailand will propose discussions to expand ties among people in ASEAN countries at the meeting of senior ASEAN Foreign Ministry officials here, he added. The proposed talks follow Foreign Minister Kasem S. Kasemsri's proposal in Brunei for an ASEAN council. According to M.R. Kasem, the body should be composed of people from ASEAN member countries "from all walks of life" for discussions to expand relations and to provide input their governments. *************************************************************** Typed by Research Department of ABSDF [MTZ] *****************************************************************